The 82-year-old legend, who was dubbed “America’s Oldest Teenager” will live on through the lives he touched over the years, including those of Justine Carrelli and Bob Clayton, two of American Bandstand’s most popular dancers. At just 13 and 16, the twosome became regulars on the show, dancing as a couple for almost three years.

Both Carrelli and Clayton bonded with Clark over their Bandstand experiences and stayed in touch with their former host since leaving the show in the early ‘60s.

“It’s like I lost my big brother. We were family for years,” Carrelli, 68, tells Parade.com about Clark’s passing. “He always treated me special. We lost a brilliant man. He made a lot of stars.”

“What a tragedy,” Clayton, 70, says. “The first thought I had when I heard the news was about a date we had made for when Dick turned 90 and I turned 80. I was going to fly out there [to California] and take him to lunch and I had thought at the time, ‘Is that positive thinking or what?’ It’s just a tragedy.’”

Check out PARADE’s May 13 issue for more from American Bandstand‘s former dancers.